August 8, 2016 at 6:00 PM - Regular Board of Directors Meeting

Rationale: 

NOTE: The agenda is on file at the LPNNRD office and may be changed up to 24 hours prior to the meeting as scheduled.

 

Rationale:  Attached find a draft agenda and registration information for the NARD Fall Conference, September 25-27 to be held in Kearney at the Younes Conference Center.  Registration Deadline is August 25th.  Please let Breunig know if you are interested in attending.

Rationale:  None

Rationale: 

A group that opposes the Costco Poultry Plant has asked to give a presentation on their side of the story.  The presentation would be from George Cunningham.  The Executive Committee asked that this presentation be scheduled at 5:30 p.m, just prior to the September 12 Board Meeting.  It was decided to invite Cunningham to speak just prior to our September board meeting.

Attached find a letter to the board concerning the Costco Poultry Plant from Neil Schilke.  Do we wish to respond?  The Executive Committee asked that short reply be sent to Schilke.

Chair John Hannah has also recommended that we invite someone from Upper Big Blue NRD to talk about their Engineering department.  It was decided to have a UBBRND person who was around when the current engineer was hired speak to the board on August 8 at 5:30 p.m.(Rod DeBuhr being the first choice).  

Rationale: 

Director Seier is starting to plan the November 14th Board Meeting.  He is suggesting the following schedule.

3:15 p.m.     Presentation from Shell Creek Group

3:45 p.m      Start Board Meeting 

6:00 p.m.     Eat Dinner and everyone can head home

Rationale: 

Attached find find the Renewal Coverage Proposal for our 2016-17 Pool Year with LARM that begins October 1.  To formalize acceptance of the proposal we need to approve the attached resolution, however two decisions need to be made along with this acceptance. 1.) Do we want to have our notice of termination be 90 or 180 days and 2.) Do we want to commit to LARM for one, two or three years.  There are financial incentives to lengthen both of these, see attached LARM Discount Spreadsheet.

Since last year we have had two claims with LARM and were satisfied with their response.

Last year we chose the 180 day and 2 year commitment option that netted a 4% premium reduction.

Rationale:  We have received our Fiscal Year 2016-2017 memberships dues statement from NARD in the amount of $24,754.64 as attached.

Rationale:  The Executive Committee did not have any Legislative Resolutions to submit to NARD this year.  If any board member has a suggested resolution it will need to be brought up at the August Board Meeting for approval.

Rationale: 

On July 25 we were informed by 3801 Harney's (Mark Masek) bank that their financing for purchase of the property was in order.  The next day the attached note was received that they would not be purchasing the Lickteig property.  

While it has been previously approved it is suggested that a motion be passed to formally acknowledge purchase of the Lickteig property.

Closing for the property is scheduled for August 11, the closing statement is attached.  The closing amount is $541,840.

Rationale: 

The past year it seems LPNNRD has lost focus on what our vision for the future is.  We have reached out to other boards and found a good fit at JEO.  Steve Wolf has assisted many boards with focusing or refocusing on producing a vision for where their organization wants to be in the future.  Steve has worked with Not for Profits, Startups, Mergers and even NRD Boards.

Steve estimates it will take three months to move through the visioning process.  He conducts a review of the NRD Mission Statement and 12 Responsibilities, then reviews LPNNRD policy and project issues.  Steve then prepares a list of questions and conducts individual interviews with each board member with all discussion being strictly confidential.  A 4 to 5 hour Visioning Meeting is conducted with the board that creates the Vision Statement for the NRD.  Steve completes the process with a list of specific recommendations to keep us moving in the direction the board agrees on.

A copy of JEOs "Agreement" is attached with details for the visioning process and a price.  The cost is a small price for helping us refocus, designate our vision and map out our future.  Steve Wolf is available and would come to board meeting to answer any questions concerning the proposal.

The Executive Committee felt this should occur after the new board is seated with the main meeting occurring in conjunction with the Annual Directors Retreat in February.  They asked that Wolf be invited to the September Board Meeting to discuss the proposal.

Rationale: 

Attached find a proposed agreement from Water Strategies to represent the three NRDs in the Lower Platte.  The price is $5,000 per month that represents a 47% increase over what we were paying Bob Weaver.  We need to have discussion and decide how we wish to move forward.

There will be some discussion with Water Strategies to attempt to narrow the focus that Water Strategies will work on to decrease the monthly fee. 

Rationale:  Chair Hannah asked that this item be put on the agenda for discussion.  The items that were in question are contained in the Terms of Employment in the Personnel Policy Handbook.

Rationale:  Director Hannah asked that this item be discussed.  Meduna asked that a copy of Sturgis Rules of Order be provided to to each director.  There was no recommendation from the Executive Committee but all members are reminded that Breunig has copies of the book available to be loaned out at any time.  If any Board Member would like to have a copy they should let Breunig know and one will be ordered.

Rationale:  Jenny Campbell our Dodge County NRCS/NRD Field office Assistant is resigning effective August 4.  Jenny has been with us for 9 years.

Rationale:  Attached find a copy of the July 22 meeting of the Personnel Sub-Committee.  Each numbered item from the minutes is listed below.

Rationale: 

Accountant Cassi Deerson turned in her letter of resignation on July 11 with her two week notice.  Her last day with the NRD was July 20.  At board meeting it was noted that we would begin advertising for the position with the ads being placed in the Wahoo Newspaper on July 21, 28 and August 4 and one time in the Lincoln Journal Star.  The closing date for resumes is August 8.

HBE started a new company HBE 360 that provides off site accounting.  The new company started, to service small not for profits groups that could not afford a full time accountant.  The client list has grown and now includes larger companies and groups that previously had full time accountants or accounting departments with multiple staff.  Cindy Love from HBE attended the July 28 Executive Committee meeting to explain the process.  Cindy asked that we put together a list of costs to support our accounting that is attached.

Meduna asked that other accounting firms be contacted to see if they offer a similar service.

We will need to make a decision with approval at board meeting which direction we will go; 1.) To fill our vacant accounting position or 2.) To contract with HBE 360 to fill our accounting needs.

Generally the Executive Committee is interested in the HBE 360 accounting opportunity.  Love was invited back to the August 8 Board Meeting and will have a cost for the service.

A motion will likely come forward during the board meeting to fill our accounting needs.

 

Rationale: 

Last month we passed a motion to pursue hiring a staff engineer and have them in place within six months.

We have reached out to UBBNRD for information about their engineering staff.  They provided a wealth of information that is attached.  Their engineering department has three professional and one clerical (60%) staff members (currently in process of filling tech position).

            1.  Projects Department Manager (Licensed P.E., Civil)

            2.  Lead Engineering Technician

            3.  Engineering Technician

            4.  Clerical position 60%

 

Costs to support the engineering department are listed in the UBB memo.  On an annual basis the budget is $295,246 with upfront cost at $86,000-120,000.

 

The UBBNRD Engineering Department handles everything our current projects committee does plus all of the O&M on district projects.  This includes:

            Manage Projects Committee

            Design small dams (currently preformed by NRCS in our district)

            Design trail systems for communities

            Design recreation additions for UBB and communities

            Preform construction services on above projects

            Preform drainage surveys for communities in district

            Preform inspections and O & M on district owned dams (6)

            Preform inspections on small privately owned dams designed by the district

            Review large engineering contracts let by district to engineering firms

            Preform construction inspection on projects let by district

            Provide certification of no rise for community and county projects

            Preform survey work for all district designed projects

 

Lower Loup NRD has had an engineer on staff for over 20 years.  When Robert Moller retired over two years ago the decision was made to not replace him.  Butch Koehlmoos relayed that they just did not have enough engineering work to keep him busy and he spent much of his time preforming tasks that their technicians do today.  They have a relationship with JEO to be on call for minor engineering duties similar to what we have with FYRA.

 

Other NRDs with engineers on staff include:

            Central Platte NRD – Duane Woodward, Engineering Hydrologist

            Lower Platte South NRD – Glenn Johnson, General Manager

            Papio-Missouri River NRD – Marlin Peterman, Assistant Manager

                                                            Two flood plain engineers

            Twin Platte NRD – Kent Miller, General Manager

 

None of these engineers preform civil engineering design work.

 

Much discussion followed with concerns about duties we would have to keep an engineer busy and the need for support staff to provide survey and other technical duties to support the engineer.  Some of the item discussed were:

            Wahoo Creek – Lead planning effort

            Skull Creek – Lead Planning effort

            Fremont GI – Work with Corps to complete study

            Design work such as the Lake Wanahoo Dump Station

Rationale: 

At the last board meeting an amendment came forward to eliminate the Large Projects Coordinator Position.  Action to eliminate a position and terminate an employee should go through the Personnel Sub-Committee, the executive committee and to the full board.  Eliminating any of these steps could expose the district to liability.  Lausterer attended the committee meeting and participated in discussion on what is proper and how to achieve the outcomes the board wishes to pursue.

It is the intent of the Personnel Sub-Committee that if an Engineer is hired the duties of the Large Project Coordinator will be merged into the engineer’s duties.

A motion came froward from the Personnel Sub-Committee: To table discussion on the Large Projects Coordinator position until a decision is made on hiring an Engineer 

Rationale: 

For the past 12 plus years the board has preformed a manager evaluation.  In the past the chairman with the most tenure has led the effort by compiling evaluations filled out by each individual board member.  Dave Saalfeld led the effort last year.  After evaluations are compiled the entire Personnel Sub-Committee meets to review the individual evaluations and the compilation and agree upon the evaluation for the manager.  Saalfeld then reviewed the Personnel Sub-Committee evaluation with the manager.  

 

Saalfeld agreed to lead the manager evaluation process again this year.  The Sub-Committee asked that a copy of the Managers evaluation be emailed to all board members.  Breunig will place a second copy of the evaluation with an envelope addressed to Saalfeld in each board members box prior to the next board meeting.  Chair Hannah will remind board members to turn in either there previously filled in evaluation or fill in the one in your mailbox and return one copy to Saalfeld in the provided envelope prior to leaving the meeting.   

Rationale:  The June financial report will not be prepared until after the annual audit field work is completed.

Rationale:  The budget hearing will be at 5:00 p.m on August 8, 2016 just prior to the Board Meeting.

Rationale: 

The Directors Budget Workshop will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday August 3 at the NRD office.

A motion will be needed at the August Board Meeting to approve the expenditure portion of the budget.

Rationale:  CREP payment of $72.16 for Tim & John Gronenthal Trust in Platte County on 4.4 acres.  The total contract is $660.00. The contract expires in August 2017.

Rationale:  The O & M crew has performed some vehicle and equipment maintenance. Assisted in preparing park bench sites. Cut volunteer trees on Rawhide ditch and Trouble Creek dam.  The College interns are assisting in Chemigation and water sampling.

Rationale:  Cory Vasek, representing the City of Yutan, would like to request an additional $20,000 from the NRD for their project to construct a safe trail for students and the general public under the Burlington Northern Railroad tracks and a bridge over Clear Creek. (Aerial Map Attached)  The District has currently obligated $30,000 over three years but, the additional funding would make it over 5 years. Yutan is pursuing other grant opportunities, has committed $60,000 and other In-Kind items. 

Rationale:  The Yutan Rural Fire & Rescue Department has purchase a rescue boat.  They have submitted the invoice and are requesting the $5,000 the NRD obligated toward their purchase.  See attached Bill of Sale.

Rationale:  NARD provided an invoice of $6,885.65 for the Conservation Trees from Bessey Nursery in Halsey.  This invoice is for just over 10,000 trees and shrubs plus delivery.

Rationale: 

Rezac Seed has provided the District a check for $1,587.94 for grass drill rental for the first half of 2016.  There were 17 cooperators that used the grass drill.

We are still waiting on reports from our cooperators in Platte and Colfax County.  The committee request that staff look at a change in Colfax County.

Rationale: 

Wanahoo RV Dump Station JEO Contract update - Contract with JEO is $25,920, to date the District has paid $14,703.50 as of July 11, 2016.

We are currently advertising for bids on the Dump Station.  Bids are due Friday, August 5th at 11:00 a.m. at which time they will be read aloud. It is anticipated that a motion will be needed to approve a bid during the August Board Meeting August 8th.

Rationale: 

Dan Ourada of Prague is making a 5 year rental offer for the hay ground at Czechland Lake.  His offer is a 60-40 share from 2017 - 2022.  He would cut, bale and haul the District's 40% and make payment to the NRD.  He would also fertilize in the spring the areas to be hayed at his cost.

With Grassland Improvement projects through the Game & Parks Commission taking place at Homestead and Czechland over the next 2 -3 years a rental agreement is not feasible until the grasslands are re-established.

Rationale: 

Miyoshi and Heimann met with NDOR on July 15th concerning the Hwy 30 Expressway and its crossing of our Rawhide Diagonal Ditch in the area of Co. Rd 20th Ave.  The NRD needs O & M access to the Diagonal Ditch where the highway intersects it, the NRD needs the capability to get to the head wall of the Diagonal and maintain the ditch.  Also the Highway intersects flood water storage cells in which the District has easements.  The new Highway will fill in some of this easement area, this may require mitigation.  The top of the roadway will exceed the elevation of the 100-yr event.  We are also concerned about the length of bridge (600+') over our ditch but, FEMA is currently reviewing the flood way.  DOR agreed to extend the bridges by a minimum of 110 feet to allow flood water to move into the storage cell as designed. (Aerial Maps Attached)

Later that day we met with the COE and U.P.R.R regarding construction of the levee along the Railroad and Military St. in Fremont. There is uncertainty as to whether there is enough space to accommodate a third rail or if Military Street could be on top of the levee or the seepage berm. Also discussed were closure structure(s) where the levee would cross the railroad. U.P. will discuss in house and get back to the Corps.

On July 21st we met with the COE and NDOR on the Fremont Levee system and future Highway 30 alignment/construction. NDOR will start letting contracts starting in late 2017, then 2018 and 2019 with each of the three segments under a 2.5 year construction period.  It's a little unclear as to where the levee would cross the Highway system, there will be multiple locations for road closure systems and uncertainty on the type of closure systems to be used, the bridge length over the NRD Diagonal ditch, and the levee and highway location in Southeast Fremont in relationship to the Costco development.

The Corps is organizing a Public Meeting in Fremont on September 6th for an update on the Fremont GI Levee Study.

Rationale:  There is Phragmites located in the wetland area of the Wanahoo property that will need to be aerial sprayed. Game & Parks Biologist Scott Luedtke and Pheasant Forever Biologist Brian Teeter recommend spraying more wetland areas to help control the vegetation.  The aerial contractor Provine will be spraying noxious and invasive weeds on the Platte River in August.  Staff would recommend spraying up to 30 acres in the Wanahoo wetland areas.  Since it is a new contractor staff is unsure of the cost and will contact someone on an estimate.

Rationale:  Seth Varner completed his Eagle Scout Project of installing three park benches and planting three trees at the east playground at Lake Wanahoo. Invoices are attached for the sponsor plaques and the trees which total $553.96.

Rationale:  The KTIC radio ad and Wahoo Newspaper eAd for August will promote the Abandoned Well Program.

Rationale:  Our booth display is currently at the last county fair for 2016.  The Saunders County Fair is going on now through Sunday, July 31st.  The display was previously at Platte and Butler County Fairs.  NRCS also had a display at Colfax County Fair and included LPNNRD materials.  NRCS student interns have been present at fairs to hand out materials and interact with the public.

Rationale:  The 2016 summer edition of the Viaduct was distributed through area newspapers during the week of July 18th-22nd.  The online edition was sent on Friday, July 22nd.

Rationale: 

Meters are being read 7-26-16 for both lines and bills will be sent out by 7-28-16.

Water samples will be collected and submitted to the State on 7-27-16.

Rationale: 

- Have received $ 3,000 deposit from new customer (Nick Chadwell), Rolling Hills subdivision.  Scheduling service connection and construction at this time.

- Steve Banghart, Colon customer, has been dealing with a continuous leak for some time now.  Last Saturday he hired a contractor to dig and they found the cause.  Upon inspection, it has been determined the leak was on the customer side of the  meter pit, but in the brass fitting used to connect the pit to the customers main.  I am recommending approval of $ 415.50 payment to Rodgers Construction for backhoe work and repair of Mr. Banghart's service.  

Rationale:  Completed inspection of air relief valves along entire service line.

Rationale: 

The District has received one new variance request for 135 acres in the Todd Valley subarea.

The District now has 100 applications totaling 6214.11 acres. The deadline for new applications in the Hydrologically Connected Area is September 15th.

Rationale:  No new updates. New variance request applications in the Non-Hydrologically Connected Area are due August 15th.

Rationale: 

Schmit Land Co has asked the Board to reconsider their variance application for 120 new irrigated acres from a new well in S11-T15N-R1E, Butler County, David City subarea. The application was originally denied due to 49.7% of the field having Class 6 soil due to slope. Since the initial review, Proskovec Earthmoving has removed all of the trees on the property and filled in the deep gullies that were originally present. Staff has provided four potential outcomes to this solution.

1) Not allow the application to be included in the ranking for new acres in the Non-Hydrologically Connected Area, as it is currently submitted, due to the natural Class 6 land.

2) Allow the application to be added into the ranking for new acres in the Non-Hydrologically Connected Area but award no points for the land alterations.

3) Allow the application to be added into the ranking for new acres in the Non-Hydrologically Connected Area and award an increase in points for the land alterations.

4) Reduce the size of the irrigated field so the total portion that was originally class 6, 7, or 8 land due to slope, is now less than 20% of the total.

Attachments:

Schmit ArcMap Aerial - Pre-alteration (2014)

Schmit ArcMap Aerial with Class 6 - Class 6 ground overlaid on 2014 aerial

Schmit ArcMap Hillshade - Lidar hillshade

Schmit Post Leveling - Surface map provided by Proskovec Earthmoving

Schmit Google Earth - Aerial photo from 4/2016 showing the trees and leveling

Much discussion followed on these different options.

 

Rationale:  No new updates.

Rationale: 

2 new permits were approved since the last Committee meeting.

Landowner	Number Of Wells	Number Of New Irrigated Acres	Type Of Well	County	Subarea
Fremont Family YMCA	1	0	Dewatering (Permanent)	Dodge	Fremont
William K Becker	1	0	Irrigation (Replacement)	Boone	Upper Newman Grove

 

 

The total number of approved permits for 2016 is 9.

Location of Approved Well Permits for 2016:  Correct as of 7/27/2016

County	Irrigation -New	Irrigation -Replacement	Stock	Commercial	Municipal	Other	Total
Butler	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Colfax	0	1	0	0	0	0	1
Dodge	0	3	0	0	0	2	5
Boone	1	1	0	0	0	0	2
Madison	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Platte	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Saunders	1	0	0	0	0	0	1
Total	2	5	0	0	0	2	9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rationale: 

2016 Irrigation Complaint

On Thursday morning, July 21, 2016, Oaklund received a complaint (phone call) regarding the end gun of one of Duane Ratkovec’s pivots watering a county road in Butler County.  Oaklund called Ratkovec’s cell phone and left a callback number since his ‘mailbox was full’.  Oaklund then called the Butler County Sheriff’s office and was told by the dispatcher that the Sheriff’s office had also logged the complaint about Duane Ratkovec’s end gun spraying on the county road.  At 9:05 a.m. Oaklund, with two interns, arrived at County Road X, between County roads 33 and 34.  The end gun from the pivot in the SE¼ of Section 35-T15N-R4E (G-169044) was watering County Road X south of Larry Ratkovec’s house – from the “School Bus Stop Ahead” sign (north) to the top of the rise (south), a distance of more than 100 feet.  The end gun was spraying all the way across County Road X to the cornfield in the SW¼ of Section 36.  At 9:11 a.m. Oaklund again called Duane Ratkovec’s cell phone.  Ratkovec answered and said he would come to the site.  Oaklund and Ratkovec discussed this situation about the water Ratkovec is pumping leaving his property, a violation of Nebraska law.  Duane Ratkovec rode his 4-wheel ATV to the well and shut off the end gun at 9:21 a.m.  When Ratkovec returned he and Oaklund continued the discussion regarding this incident and previous years’ incidents of the end guns from Ratkovec’s pivots spraying county roads.  This discussion continued for approximately ½ hour.  Oaklund wrote a note with the date and time of the next Water Committee meeting and gave it to Duane Ratkovec.  Duane folded the note, put it in his pocket, and said that he would attend the meeting.  After leaving the site Oaklund returned phone call to Larry Ratkovec.  Oaklund also told Larry Ratkovec the date and time of the next Water Committee meeting and Larry Ratkovec also indicated that he would attend the meeting.

Both individuals attended the Water Committee meeting.  Duane Ratkovec stated that vandalism was the cause of the pivot watering the road and this has happened several times in the past.  This has been reported to the Sheriff's Office and has been investigated.  Duane Ratkovec stated that both himself and the Sheriff's office have now placed remote recording devices to catch the individuals involved.

Larry Ratkovec called our office on Friday July 29, 2016 to report that this same pivot in question watered the county road again the previous night.

 

Rationale: 

Martensen (Cech) land irrigation in NW¼ of Section 34-T18N-R3E

On January 15, 2016, the acres owned by Delores Cech in the NW¼ of Section 34, Township 18 North, Range 3 East (southwest of Shell Creek) were sold to three of her children who now each have ? interest in the land.  The new owners are John Cech (son), Ron Cech (son), and Nancy Martensen (daughter, whose husband is Dan Martensen).  Oaklund has been working with Dan Martensen for the changes to his surface water right  from Shell Creek.  On June 27, 2016, Dan and Nancy Martensen, John and Julie Cech, and Ronald and Dawn Cech, on behalf of CMC Land Holdings, LLC., filed a Relinquishment of Water Appropriation, REL-5709, in the office of the Department of Natural Resources, relinquishing the right to divert water under appropriation A-6523 for the irrigation of 70 acres in the NW¼ of Section 34-T18N-R3E (see attachment). 

This is the final requirement for completion of the Motion Passed at the February 8, 2016 Board meeting.  [Note:  Dan Martensen and Ron Cech attended the January 28, 2016 Water Committee meeting to answer questions regarding this project.   Section 34-T18N-R3E is the eastern most section in the new Richland-Schuyler North Phase 2 Area.]

 

Below is summary from the February 8, 2016 Board Meeting

Cech Irrigation in NW¼ of Section 34-T18N-R3E

On January 15, 2016, the acres owned by Delores Cech in the NW¼ of Section 34, Township 18 North, Range 3 East, Lower Shell Creek subarea (south west of Shell Creek) were sold to three of her children who now each have interest in the land.  The new owners are John Cech (son), Ron Cech (son), and Nancy Martensen (daughter, whose husband is Dan Martensen).  In the week prior to the purchase of this land Dan Martensen contacted Russell Oaklund regarding the certified acres for this land and the surface water right from Shell Creek for this ground.  The records of LPNNRD show that there are 67 acres certified as irrigated from irrigation well G-001817 with some additional certified irrigation acres from the surface water permit.  The records of the Department of Natural Resources show that surface Water Appropriation A-6523 is a permit with a priority date of July 30, 1954, to divert water from Shell Creek for irrigation of 70 acres in the NW¼ of Section 34. 

Following their purchase of the land Dan Martensen made an appointment to meet with Oaklund at the LPNNRD office in Wahoo.  On Wednesday, January 20^th, Martensen met with Oaklund in LPNNRD office.  Martensen related that the Delores Cech ground has been with gated pipe from irrigation well G-001817 and with a pump from Shell Creek.  Martensen related that for more efficient use of irrigation water they would like to install a pivot and use the irrigation well as the source of water for irrigation.  By removing some trees they could position the pivot to make a full circle covering 120 acres and irrigate only 17 acres outside the pivot with gated pipe.  Martensen related that the additional time and expense needed to maintain the pumpsite and pump on Shell Creek are probably not worth it and they would be willing to relinquish their surface water right from Shell Creek if they could receive approval from LPNNRD to irrigate the land from irrigation well G-001817 (as indicated above).  During this meeting Oaklund called the Department of Natural Resources in Lincoln and discussed surface Water Appropriation A-6523 with Susan France.  The seventy acres approved for irrigation from Shell Creek under A-6523 remain “in full force and effect.”

On Thursday, January 21^st, as per the appointment made with the DNR, Dan Martensen met with John Miller in Lincoln.  During this meeting Miller called Oaklund regarding surface Water Appropriation A-6523.  After this meeting Martensen stopped at LPNNRD.  He again related that it would be more practical, economical, and a more efficient use of water to irrigate with a center pivot from the irrigation well.  Dan Martensen related that he will attend the Water Committee meeting on January 28, 2016.  An aerial photo showing the NW¼ of section 34 is attached.  [Note:  Section 34-T18N-R3E is the eastern most section in the new Richland-Schuyler North Phase 2 Area.]

Report by Russ Oaklund

-----------------------------------------------

Ron Cech and Dan Martensen attended the Water Committee meeting on January 28, 2016 in regard to this request.  They are willing to retire the surface water right in exchange to irrigate the entire field. 

 

Rationale: 

The summer measurements of the GWEL network wells within and adjacent to the SQS areas is scheduled to start in early August.

 

Staff has been checking flow meters, making and receiving calls from producers in this area, and measuring water levels.  The precipitation received in this area has promoted some producers to call LPNNRD asking that we wait to go into their fields to prevent tracking up their access road.  Producers have also inquired about the cost-share program for their flow meters.

 

Question concerning irrigation before flow meter installed for Bryce Grotelueschen (see attached document).

 

Rationale: 

 

The AEM flights have been completed in both our SQS areas.  Preliminary data should be available at the end of the year and the final report is due in August 2017.  We have received the WSF contract from DNR for the AEM flights (see attached contract).  We will need a motion for approval.

 

Rationale: 

 

The LPNNRD has received the WSF contract from DNR for the cost-share program on flow meters (see attached contract).  We will need motion for approval.  Once approved we can start this cost share program with producers.

 

Rationale: 

The LPRBC Managers meeting was held at LPNNRD on Wednesday, July 6, 2016.  The main topic of concern was: what are the target flows at Louisville?  See attached agenda.

Future management direction was outlined:

1. Target % of flows at Louisville

2. Distributions of excess supply among the member NRD's: evenly / a percent of the supply / number of irrigable acres

3. Plan implementation at the NRD level

It looks like the hydropower (Loup Power Canal water right) will be credited to the Loup Basin.

 

Rationale: 

We have forwarded the last changes approved by the Board to DNR and Olsson Associates for their review. No new updates yet.

Steps for approval of LPNNRD V-IMP

Water Comm. and Board approval of Goals, Objectives, and Action Items (G,O,AI of V-IMP)	Done
Submit to Olsson Assoc. and DNR of revised G,O,AI of V-IMP as well as edited Plan.	Pending
Review and final comments by Stakeholders Comm.
Review and approval of Water Comm. and Board of entire V-IMP
Submit to DNR for their final review
Hold public hearings
Final approval of V-IMP

 

We have received an invoice from Olsson Associates concerning work they have done for our V-IMP in the amount of $530.16 (see attached invoice).  This is on contract so does not need approval by the Water Committee.

 

Rationale: 

Requests for 132 irrigation kits have been received.  One request for ten sample kits was received the day of the Water Committee (July 27, 2016), while 33 water samples from producers were also received the same day and will be sent to the lab for testing.

 

Rationale: 

Eight producers have ordered equipment for 2016 in our NAWMN program.  Aaron Nygren (Colfax County Extension Educator) has delivered the equipment to six of them and them guided them with installation of the equipment.

 

Rationale: 

2016 is the fourteenth year of this Phase 2 Area. This area was reduced from 32 sections to 21 sections in 2015.

Rationale: 

Oaklund met with one producer in his yard to answer questions regarding Phase 2 requirements.  Oaklund, with the interns, reviewed the locations of the tens sections of this area (the ten sections immediately north of the Phase 3):   Township 18 North, Range 2 East, sections 31 to 36; Township 18 North, Range 3 East, sections 31 to 34.  During this review we looked at Dan Martensen’s new pivot in the east section of this area and discussed surface water rights.

Rationale: 

2016 is the first year of this Phase 3 Area.  This Phase 3 area went into effect September 1, 2015.  The 55 sections of this area first went into a Phase 2 Area in 2004.  

 

Rationale: 

No new update.

 

Rationale: 

Chris Poole was able to get all the landowners in Saunders County to fill out their acre certifications and turn them in without having to issue notice for a Cease & Desist Order.

Phoenix group has provided an update of their database project for the LPNNRD and Poole will be testing it on the acre certifications remaining in Dodge County.

 

Rationale: 

For 2016 we have 478 renewals and 91 new permit applications for a current total of 569.  The NRD is required to inspect each chemigation site at least once every three years.  This means we are approaching an average of 200 inspections each summer. 

Summer chemigation inspections are listed below:

	Number to be inspected this summer	Number inspected	Number approved
Renewal	~138	123	123
New	91	84	84

 

The breakdown, by county for the 91 new chemigation permit applications, are listed below:

County	New Chemigation Applications
Boone	5
Butler	14
Colfax	11
Dodge	13
Madison	0
Platte	12
Saunders	36

 

 

The breakdown by county for renewal inspections this year.

County	Number of Renewals
Boone	15
Butler	15
Colfax	5
Dodge	19
Madison	1
Platte	22
Saunders	46

 

 

Rationale:  The LPNNRD has received two livestock permit applications from DEQ since the last Water Committee meeting.

Name	Livestock	Type of Permit	Legal Description	County
Mead Cattle Company 1344 County Road 10 Mead NE 68041	Cattle 30,000 head 30,000 A.U.	Modification of construction and operating permit Modification of NPDES permit coverage	S1/2, Section 12, T14N, R8E N1/2, Section 13, T14N, R8E	Saunders
Kevin & Lyle Herchenbach Operation 42616 505 Street Lindsay NE 68644	Finishing Swine 4,000 Head 1,600 S.U.	New Construction and Operating Permit	E1/2, NE1/4, Section 9, T20N, R3W	Platte

 

 

 

 

Description of permit application:

An additional application for a major modification of operating permit for Mead Cattle Company.  This is for additional work they plan to do on their holding ponds and new manure handling plan (July 1, 2016).

Kevin & Lyle Herchenbach is for a new finishing swine operation located 2 miles northeast of Lindsay (July 11, 2016).

 

 

Rationale:  One new well has been reviewed and approved by Gottschalk for decommissioning since the last Committee meeting.

Rationale: 

No wells have been plugged, reviewed, or ready for cost share payment approval this month.

 

Rationale: 

Lower Elkhorn NRD is going to apply for another WSF grant request by July 29, 2016 for more AEM flights in their District.  They are proposing to fly the south-eastern portion of their district and they have asked Papio and LPNNRD if we wish to be a part of this application.  Areas that the LPNNRD should focus on are the Restricted Development Areas and areas with confined (artesian) aquifers.  

The area that is adjacent to LENRD would be the Platte River Uplands subarea which is north west of Fremont. If 1/3 mile spacing is done then the estimated total flight miles is ~54 miles.  Using proportional amounts to our current AEM flights therefore has an estimated total cost of $37,000 of which $15,000 would be LPNNRD portion.  This should include AEM flights, data inversion, and final report.

After much discussion the Water Committee members thought the LPNNRD should try to fund this study.

Rationale: 

Of the eight (older) loggers from 2006 and 2007, four have now been replaced.  These loggers were expected to function for 7-8 years and have exceeded this time.

Downey Drilling has completed the drilling and installation of three new monitoring wells:  Dodge County, east of Ames (NB-1) – shallow well 25’ depth and deeper well 240’ depth; Saunders County, west of Malmo (P-3) 495’ depth.  Downey has completed the Well Registrations for these wells with the Department of Natural Resources.  A data logger has been installed in the Malmo though a longer cable will still need to be ordered.  The uplift water pressure in the deep Ames well continues to be evident -- when the pressure cap is removed from the top of the cased well the water begins to outflow in less than a minute.

 

Rationale: 

As already mentioned NRD staff will start GWEL measurements in our SQS areas starting in early August.

Level measurements for the Wann Basin area near the former Ordnance Plant at Mead will be scheduled for the end of August.

Rationale: 

Staff begun annual sampling of the 53 wells in the District that make up the Statewide Network. Samples have been collected at 26 sites.

Rationale: 

Lakes that tested high for E. coli bacteria this week. E. coli levels measured above 235 colonies/100 ml of sample are considered a higher risk for illness when swimming.  Considering the more rapid changes in bacteria conditions, signs are not posted with these higher levels although DEQ wants people to be aware and use their own judgment on their use.

No lakes were found to have high bacteria levels

 

 

Rationale: 

Lakes that will be on “Health Alert” this week. It is DEQ policy that any lake that has microcystin levels over the established criterion of 20 ppb will be placed on “Health Alert” Status until such time that it has tested below 20 ppb for two continuous weeks.  If a lake is under a Health Alert, signs will be posted recommending people avoid full body contact activities such as swimming, wading, skiing, jet skiing, etc. Non-contact activities such as boating, fishing, and camping are OK.  

Lakes with High Microcystin Levels

·         Big Indian Creek Lake in Gage County

·         Swan Creek Lake #5A in Saline County

 

Rationale: 

Attached is an invoice from USGS for the water quality monitoring on Shell Creek for the amount of $5,600.  Since this is part of an existing contract, approval by the Water Committee is not necessary.

 

Rationale: 

The LPNNRD has received an invoice from USGS for stream flow measurements taken on Shell Creek, Wahoo Creek, and a real time continuance groundwater level monitoring site at ARDC.  The amount is $16,490 and is part of an existing contract so approval by Water Committee is not necessary.

 

Rationale: 

The Budget workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, August 3, 2016 starting at 5:00 pm at the LPNNRD office.

 

Rationale: 

The GMDA Summer Session was held in Yakima WA from June 29 to July 1, 2016.  The Yakima Water District is very progressive and well organized.  All water uses in the basin from agriculture, municipal, environmental, recreation, and tribal concerns are actively working together to sustain the resource and willing to compromise.

They are also addressing the effects of climate change.  With the winters getting warmer more of the precipitation is falling as rain as opposed to snow.  They already have 5 reservoirs in the basin and looked at snow pack as their 6th reservoir.  Since snow pack is less important they are looking at more reservoirs to collect this rainfall.

 

The Winter Conference will be held in Fort Worth Texas in early January 2017.

 

Rationale: 

The three summer interns are now assisting Tyler with the remaining chemigation inspections and are collecting water samples now that the precipitation has slowed and producers are irrigating.  They have less than a month until the fall semester begins.

 

Rationale: 

Four members of the general public attended the Water Committee meeting.

Duane Ratkovec

Larry Ratkovec

Simone Rock of HDR

Mary Woptika

 

Rationale: 

Last week we received our SWCP State allocation for this fiscal year of $ 114,164.19.  I will be updating our spreadsheet and have it available for the Committee next month.

I have also attached the breakdown for all districts across the state.

Rationale:  None

Rationale:  15-S-16     David Hartman     Terraces/Tile/Basins     $ 10,962.26

Rationale:  None

Rationale:  None

Rationale: 

Lands For Conservation Cancellations:

     James Egr                    $ 2,760.00

     William Laughridge     $ 2,760.00

(Both contracts were cropped this year and forfeited LFC payments)

Rationale:  None

Rationale:  The Shell Creek Plan is still under NDEQ/EPA review.

Rationale: 

Attached are three landowner Shell Creek no-till contract payment requests that are part of the original Shell Creek Grant we took over from the SCWIG.  These payments will be taken from banked grant funds that were transferred to LPNNRD when we accepted administration of that grant. The 2016 payments are: 

Steve Backes : $1,179 (117.9 acres)

Duane Backes: $935 (93.5 acres)

Eldon Jedicka: $206 (20.6 acres)

Rationale:  Mountford reports that our preliminary application for assistance through NRCS's Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) has passed the first round for building two proposed Wahoo Creek Watershed dams (Site 26 & 27 as attached) has passed the first round.  We are now being requested to submit a full application by September 19, 2016.   Mountford will be working on this proposal with NRCS after participating in a webinar in early August.  While most of the application work is planned to be completed in-house, we may benefit from having a engineering firm provide technical data and update project costs. The committee is asked to consider allowing staff to retain services from an engineering firm if needed to improve our application. For the pre-application, Mountford estimated a total construction and landrights costs at $1,762,500 to complete both structures. If successful, the RCPP program would provide up to 50% assistance.

Rationale: 

The total amount of previous Board commitments for FY 2017 total $11,230.

Rationale: 

Miyoshi and Heimann met with NDOR on July 15th concerning the Hwy 30 Expressway and its crossing of our Rawhide Diagonal Ditch in the area of Co. Rd 20th Ave.  The NRD needs O & M access to the Diagonal Ditch where the highway intersects it, the NRD needs the capability to get to the head wall of the Diagonal and maintain the ditch.  Also the Highway intersects flood water storage cells in which the District has easements.  The new Highway will fill in some of this easement area, this may require mitigation.  The top of the roadway will exceed the elevation of the 100-yr event.  We are also concerned about the length of bridge (600+') over our ditch but, FEMA is currently reviewing the flood way.  DOR agreed to extend the bridges by a minimum of 110 feet to allow flood water to move into the storage cell as designed. (Aerial Maps Attached)

Later that day we met with the COE and U.P.R.R regarding construction of the levee along the Railroad and Military St. in Fremont. There is uncertainty as to whether there is enough space to accommodate a third rail or if Military Street could be on top of the levee or the seepage berm. Also discussed were closure structure(s) where the levee would cross the railroad. U.P. will discuss in house and get back to the Corps.

On July 21st we met with the COE and NDOR on the Fremont Levee system and future Highway 30 alignment/construction. NDOR will start letting contracts starting in late 2017, then 2018 and 2019 with each of the three segments under a 2.5 year construction period.  It's a little unclear as to where the levee would cross the Highway system, there will be multiple locations for road closure systems and uncertainty on the type of closure systems to be used, the bridge length over the NRD Diagonal ditch, and the levee and highway location in Southeast Fremont in relationship to the Costco development.

The Corps is organizing a Public Meeting in Fremont on September 6th for an update on the Fremont GI Levee Study.

Rationale:  Attached is "Amendment No. 2 to the Project Partnership Agreement Between the Department Of The Army, The City Of Schuyler, Nebraska, And The Lower Platte North Natural Resources District For Design And Construction Of The Platte River And Shell Creek (Section 205) Project, Schuyler, Nebraska".  This amendment will allow the Army COE to include needed drainage ditch cleaning as part of Schuyler's levee cost-share project.  By signing this agreement, there is no financial commitment from LPNNRD for the ditch cleaning. 

Rationale:  Director Bailey reported that process is being made with regards to completing final engineering adjustments to the project and preparing a no-rise certificate for the City of Schuyler's review.

Rationale: 

Rationale:  No new information to report.

Rationale: 

Wahoo Creek Payment:

  Tim Bartek        Terraces/Tile/Basins       $ 2,022.13

Rationale: 

A proposed educational activity for 2017 is well testing nights.  Our first “Test Your Well Nights” in partnership with local FFA Chapters is September 29th.  The following items need to purchased:

Pocket Colorimeter: $473 (3 x $473 = $1,419.00)

Ampules: $33 for pack of 25 (4 x $33 = $132)

 

Rationale:  July 22 was Cassi Deerson's last day of work with us.  Attached find a sheet that shows the hours of annual leave that are owed to her.

Rationale:  August 5th was Jenny Campbell last day of work with us.  Attached find a sheet that shows the hours of annual leave that are owed to her.

Rationale: 

James Fujan - Terraces  -     $6,454.925

Rationale: 

NOTE: The agenda is on file at the LPNNRD office and may be changed up to 24 hours prior to the meeting as scheduled.